Ezra and Helios settled into the wooden chairs at the center of the hidden garden. There was no tea this time.
No small plates of sweets the way there used to be.
And yet, sitting there with the glow of the blossoms around them, it felt strangely familiar. Comforting.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply sat, listening to the quiet and letting the space fill itself.
Then Helios broke the silence.
"So," he said gently, "how is Lior doing? Is he faring well?"
Ezra stiffened at the sound of Lior's name, the reaction instinctive before he could stop it. He turned his gaze aside, pretending to focus on one of the glowing plants.
"He's doing well," Ezra replied after a beat. "He had some… concerns about me leaving for a few hours. But Fizzy handled it well. Gained his trust. Lior was okay staying with him."
Helios smiled. "Fizzy has a way with children. He volunteers at an orphanage from time to time, or so I've heard."
